Via AERO COMP AC6 N656AC

Summary

On 17 January 1998 at about 22:15 local time, a Via AERO COMP AC6 registered N656AC was involved in an accident near Rockledge, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 January 1998 at 22:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Rockledge, Florida, United States

Coordinates

28.3102, -80.7198

Aircraft

Via AERO COMP AC6

Registration

N656AC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Merritt Island → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL98LA032

2 people died.

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the trees in the emergency landing area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

About forty-five minutes into the flight, several witnesses reported hearing and seeing the airplane before the accident. Witness accounts of the airplane ranged from hearing the engine sputtering to no interruption in engine power. Witnesses reported that the airplane collided with a tree and burst into flames. An examination of the accident site disclosed that wreckage debris was scattered over an area 55 feet wide and 80 feet long. The aircraft impacted the ground in a 60 to 70 degree nose low attitude. Further examination of the accident site disclosed that airplane collided with a tree along the wreckage path prior to the airplane's collision with the ground. The wreckage examination also disclosed that the entire airframe was fire damaged and the composite material, of which the airplane was constructed, was melted. Examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical problem. Examination of the engine assembly also failed to disclose any pre-existing mechanical problems that would have prevented normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.